Green Stone Ring Page 18

  Gini smiled.

  “Always the salesman,” Matt said as he put his arm around Melinda. “Come on, mama. Let’s go home.”

  Once again, the room was silent. Gini was the only one standing alone. All the happy couples were gone—home to be together. It was a night of mixed emotions. She couldn’t remember when she had had so much fun. And the heartfelt sighs when Melinda announced she was going to be a new mother. What an amazing moment: that soft, private joy on her face. Pregnant women didn’t exactly glow, as people said, but there was something. Would Gini ever have what must be a glorious feeling—telling her husband they were going to have a baby? She could see it in her mind, how she would make him wait (who? The image of the man she was talking to flickered), how she’d let the words ripen on her tongue—the moment he understood—then his joy…

  At this point, no, that was probably not going to happen.

  She sat down and started to take off the slippers and put on her shoes. Lately, she found herself fantasizing being in Ric’s arms. He was always so caring, his touch so gentle. She’d been able to push it out of her mind until tonight when he wrapped his long arms around her and held her tight for the last dance. Just as she had imagined, she melted into his body with a feeling of comfort and security. It took her back to sitting on her Pop’s lap, and how it made her feel snug and safe. She envisioned Ric’s lips on hers, and then their bodies heated and twisted, making incredible love. She sat back abruptly, holding her shoe, opened her eyes wide, and then closed them. She needed to get that image out of her head, but her body wanted him, really wanted him. Could she do that? Could she step out of her marriage, maybe just for one night? No… that would be a terrible step.

  “Okay, sweets, let’s get out of here.”

  Gini slipped on her shoes. They walked out to the valet arm in arm. When they got outside, big flakes of snow were slowly drifting to the ground. Ric gave his ticket to the valet. She went out from under the cover area, put back her head and opened her mouth. The snowflakes went on her tongue and landed on her nose. He smiled as he watched her.

  “Your car, Mr. Santini.”

  Ric walked out to Gini and swept her up off her feet, then slipped her inside the opened passenger side door.

  When they got inside her condo, Ric helped her off with her coat.

  “Fix yourself a drink. I’ll be just a minute,” she said.

  “You want something?”

  “I’ll have an Irish creme.”

  As she walked back to her room, she thought, Can I do this? She felt she was being noticed again as a woman and, yes, she liked it. The night, her feelings for Ric, seemed very separate from her being married, separate from their friendship; it was a different world for just the two of them.

  Almost imperceptibly, the other world, the outside world, slipped away.

  He took off his overcoat and tux jacket and laid them over the chair. The untied bow tie was pulled out from under his shirt collar and put on top. Then the cummerbund came off and was added to the pile. He took the top two studs out of his shirt and stuck them in his jacket pocket. After pouring her drink and his scotch, he walked over to the windows holding a glass in each hand.

  She walked to the bed and looked at it, then she pulled back the covers. Almost in a trance, she took the clip from her hair.

  Gini walked back into the room. She still had on her dress, but the shoes and jewelry were gone. Her hair was down, and she was lifting the curls to break them loose. As she did, the long hair fell to her shoulders and down her back. He put his arm around her, bringing the Irish creme in front of her face.

  She took it. “Look at the beautiful snow.”

  He wrapped his arm around the front of her shoulders, and she leaned back on him.

  “I just love the first snow of the season,” she said in a soft voice. “What an amazing night.”

  “Amazing.”

  They both stood quietly sipping their drinks and watching the snowflakes gently blow around in the wind.

  Gini took hold of his hand. It was time, time for her to be with him, just the two of them. It all seemed clear to her, for some reason. Why had she been fighting her feelings? She wasn’t superwoman to live with loneliness forever. Franco had created this situation as much as she had.

  She firmly put Franco out of her mind. She set her glass on the bookshelf next to the window and pulled Ric to go with her. As they passed the walk-in bar, he set his glass down on the counter. When they entered the bedroom, he saw the bed had been turned down. She sat him on the bed and started taking the studs from his shirt.

  He put his hands on her hips. He could see her puckered nipples under the fabric of her dress—she was turned on. Pulling her close they kissed, starting slowly, but soon their tongues were dancing, and his hands started up her body from her hips. She put the studs on the nightstand. Half of them fell to the floor when she stepped back away from him.

  He took in a long breath and let it out slowly, then started taking the cuff links from his shirt cuffs. Whenever she was ready, he could wait.

  She reached up to her right shoulder and unhooked the strap. The fabric went to the back releasing the front. The material folded softly down to her breast but stopped before completely uncovering it. When the other strap was released, the weight of the fabric pulled the entire gown slowly down, revealing her completely naked body.

  Ric looked at her and then closed his eyes; his emotions took over. She walked back to him and slipped her hands into his shirt, taking it off, and hung it on the foot bedpost.

  He stood up and wrapped his body down around her. She unfastened the button at his waist and unzipped his slacks, letting out a pleasing sigh when she felt his hardness in her hand. He unwrapped his arms, and she slid down his body taking his pants with her. His abs tightened. He reached down and lifted her onto the bed. Then quickly removed his shoes and the rest of his clothes and joined her. He had wanted this for so long. He had wanted to be with her, their naked bodies touching. He had wanted her for his own. They caressed and kissed and then became one, joined by their longing for each other.

  Around 4:00 a.m. they fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms. Their bodies had cooled, and their skin was moist under the thick fluffy duvet.

  A little after ten, Ric woke up. He needed to get up and go to the brunch meeting at the hotel. He carefully pulled his arm out from under Gini, trying not to disturb her deep sleep.

  He went into the small guest room and took a shower. What was he going to wear? He didn’t want to wear his dirty work clothes, and the tux wasn’t appropriate. The sweatshirt and his pull-on pants would have to work.

  When he went back to the living area, Gini was standing at the end of the breakfast bar, drinking some juice.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  Her hair was tossed and her eyes sleepy looking. “Where are you going?”

  She was wearing his tux shirt. The open front was showing the inside of her breasts and her beautiful cleavage; the tails reached to just above her knees.

  He pulled her into his arms. She snuggled close to his body with her arms tucked between them.

  He leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head. “I have to go over to the hotel for our brunch meeting. Do you want to go with me?”

  She shook her head against his body.

  “You’re coming back?”

  “I will be. Come on, go back to bed.”

  He took her hand and led her back into the bedroom. She crawled up on the bed without undressing.

  “I love this shirt.”

  “It’s yours. I’ll have to admit it looks a lot better on you.”

  He pulled the comforter up over her body and kissed her.

  Ric was late getting into the hotel restaurant. James and Carol were eating their breakfast.

  “Were the roads bad?” Carol asked.

  James gave Ric a look from head to foot. “Fancy.”

  Ric slid into the half-circle boo
th seat. Carol was looking at her electronic tablet and checking a printed sheet in front of her.

  James suddenly sat back in the booth seat. “You spent the night with Gini!”

  “Coffee, Mr. Santini?” the waitress asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  “And you got some action.” James made a definite point of pulling himself back to the table. “You, my friend, got a piece of fine as…”

  “James!” Carol exclaimed abruptly cutting him off.

  James looked intently at Ric.

  “Okay, just so we can go forward here, I did spend the night with Gini. And yes, I got some action. So, now, let’s move on with the meeting.”

  “Lucky you! High five.”

  Carol gave him a look. “James, show some respect.”

  They went through the numbers, the check-off list, and all agreed the night had been profitable and a big success.

  “We have another busy week coming up,” Ric continued. “The big Murray wedding events are all week long, plus the other holiday parties. Do we have it all covered, Carol?”

  “We do. Thank goodness we aren’t doing the wedding itself.”

  James and Carol agreed it was a good day to go home and enjoy the day off.

  “Are you done with your plate?” the waitress asked.

  “Yes, you can bring me the slip.”

  She poured him another cup of coffee, and he sat back thinking about the night before. What’s wrong with me? He had made love with the wife of one of the best friends he’d ever had. He’d never imagined in a million years he could do such a thing. He would never have sex with a married woman, he simply was not that kind of man, but Gini, oh Gini. Was the difference in his thinking because he’d had feelings for her in high school, and now those feelings were taking over his good sense? It didn’t seem to matter she was married to Franco. No matter how hard he tried to feel guilt, there seemed to be none. That was strange, he thought. He didn’t understand himself. Was this what love did? Or was it selfishness? Certainly, his desires were steering the boat.

  But what was going to happen when Franco came home? He’d deny anything was going on. Yes, he’d deny if Franco asked, especially if it seemed important to Gini that he didn’t know about the affair.

  But that would mean the affair was over. That this was just for now, a brief glorious romance, nothing close to what he really wanted. He couldn’t stand to think about that, so he didn’t.

  After signing the voucher for breakfast, Ric went back to Gini’s. The house was dark and quiet. She was still in the same position on the bed sound asleep. He gathered his things to go home to change his clothes.

  He left her a note on the breakfast bar:

  See you soon. Love, Ric.

  Gini woke about twelve-thirty. She didn’t see or hear him. She walked through the darkened rooms and saw all his clothes were gone from the living room and in the back. Then she saw the note and smiled.

  After eating and getting dressed, she started picking up her clothes from around the bedroom. He had laid her dress neatly on the lounging couch in the sitting area near the bed. She picked it up and held it close to her body and started dancing around the room as if she were in his arms. The shirt studs strewn on the floor by the nightstand made her laugh. What a fairy-tale night they had had. What a wonderful, wonderful night. Lovemaking for hours; he loved her, she could tell. Did she love him? Did she have any regrets? She sat on the bed with her dress folded over her arm. The happy, elated feeling was draining out of her body. Did she have regret? No. None. She loved every minute of the night, and she wanted more. It was wrong, and she knew it, and she knew in an instant, many worlds could come crashing down, but she didn’t want the incredible feeling of satisfaction, acceptance, and joy to go away. She got up and twirled with the dress one more time. She’d worry about the consequences later. She was too happy now to put a damper on it.

  Ric texted her he was on his way back. When he arrived, she greeted him at the door, folded her arms across her body, and hugged tight to him. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her.

  “Did you get rested?”

  “Yes. I was sad when I woke up, and you were gone.”

  “I needed to get some clothes to wear. You caught me off guard. I usually keep a change of clothes in my car just in case I’m away from the house, and something comes up. But yesterday I brought all my change of clothes up here and wore all of them. It made for an interesting brunch wearing my sweats.”

  She pulled her head back and looked at him. “You, Riccardo Santini, fashionista, wore sweats to Sunday brunch at the Long Wharf Hotel?” She giggled. “That, I’m sorry I missed.”

  She took his hand and pulled him into the living room.

  He playfully let her drag him. “We can go to the football party. I’m sure Markus won’t mind if we’re late.”

  “We could.” They sat down on the couch.

  The game was on the TV. She leaned up against his body putting her lips to his. He closed his eyes. Her kisses were the sweetest kisses he had ever had. She kissed him again. He put his hand behind her head, let out a loving groan, and began to breathe deeply.

  Ric’s next week was demanding—parties, contracts, and paperwork Mr. Vasquez was sending for him to review. It seemed he found an excuse to go by Gini’s every day.

  Every time she thought about Saturday night she smiled. There wasn’t much socializing or partying in her life. She had thrown herself into her work—her only friend, Catherine. She knew going to parties alone would be no fun. Now, it was like high school and college, having fun with friends. Yes, her friend Ric. She was looking forward to the next party at the museum and the children’s party. She was enjoying life again.

  Wednesday Gini had a meeting with Michael. After she was so frightened by the man in the restaurant, he decided to take Brenda’s suggestion and meet at their house. Gini met him in the lobby of his office building.

  When they walked in the door, his two daughters came running into his arms calling, “Daddy, Daddy.”

  Gini loved the sweetness.

  He introduced her to Brenda and his children, then they worked in the living room while Brenda fixed dinner and got the girls ready for bed. She knew Gini was good for him. She knew Ms. Anderson would send him down the path to success.

  About an hour later, the girls once again ran to their daddy. Gini could smell the aroma of clean bodies and the sweet smell of shampoo. Michael gathered the girls into his arms and took the little ones to bed.

  Brenda and Gini talked about how Michael and Brenda had met, then about having a family.

  “Do you have children?” Brenda asked.

  “No, we have tried, but so far my husband and I haven’t been successful at getting pregnant.”

  “You’ll love being a mother.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  The two women continued talking as they set the dining room table. Brenda appreciated the help Gini was giving Michael to get into office. She was proud of her husband, and both women agreed he’d go further up the political ladder, Brenda thinking all the way to president of the United States.

  Michael joined them for dinner.

  “Are you going to the soiree over at the Kennedy Library and Museum on Saturday?” Michael asked Gini.

  “I am. I’m very excited, my first time. And you?”

  “I want Michael to wear a top hat,” Brenda interjected.

  “That’s craziness,” Michael said.

  “No, it’s not. The theme of the evening is the nineteenth century. That’s what the noblemen wore in those days, right Ms. Anderson?”

  “Please, call me Gini. And I agree with Brenda.”

  Michael just shook his head and went on eating.

  After dinner, Michael and Gini worked to nearly ten o’clock and then he took her home.

  Thursday evening Ric walked in the door. Gini was curled up in the living room chair. Her knees were pulled up to her chest, and she was
crying.

  “Sweets.” He quickly walked to her. “What’s wrong?”

  Gini just looked at him and then closed her eyes, put the side of her face to the chair back and cried some more. Ric sat down on the floor in front of the chair and rubbed up and down her leg.

  “Please, Gini, tell me what’s wrong.”

  She didn’t respond for a few minutes. Then she looked at him. “I called Mama.”

  “Oh, Gins.” He pulled her up and sat on the couch with her in his lap.

  “She didn’t know me. She was so distant, so confused. By the end of the conversation she said she knew who I was, but I’m not sure she did. Then I called Cindy. She said Mama has good days and then really bad ones. Today was one of those bad days.” Gini took a tissue and blew her nose. “I’m okay, Ric.” She got up. “I’m sorry to greet you as a basket case.”

  She took his hand, going toward the kitchen.

  Ric sat on the breakfast bar chair and pulled her close to him and hugged her. “I’m always here for you.”

  She pulled back and kissed him, then walked into the kitchen to fix dinner.

  “Cindy told me when Mama’s doing well, she bakes in the community kitchen. I guess people stand in line to grab one of her bear claws. I hope she has a lot of those good days.”

  “Me too, sweets, me too.”

  Friday Ric was at Gini’s most of the afternoon. He was working at the breakfast bar when James called him. Ric put his PET on the counter on speakerphone. “How’s it going?”

  “Good, just checking in and making sure everything is a go for tonight on your end,” James answered.

  “Yes, I’m preparing myself for the bachelorette cocktail hour. Then I’ll put them in their limos and send them on their way. How about you, ready for the bachelor party?”

  “I guess so. Hopefully, they won’t be too rowdy.”

  “Remember I won’t be helping tomorrow night.”

  “I remember. You’re going to be rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. I assume you will be with Gini.”

  Ric looked at her as she walked to the sink. “Yes, I have you on speaker.”